The final Grand Slam of the tennis season is over, and for the fifth consecutive year, the Men’s Final took place on a Monday…thanks to Mother Nature. In 2011, the US Open dealt with a pre-tournament earthquake, then Hurricane that cancelled Arthur Ashe Kids Day, with additional weather late in the second week that pushed the Women’s Final to Sunday and the Men’s Final to Monday.
While New York avoided earthquakes and hurricanes this year, Queens did receive a pair of morning tornado touchdowns on the final Saturday, followed by additional severe weather that postponed the Women’s Final; and it was deja vu all over again – with a Sunday Women’s Final and Monday Men’s Championship.
…but that’s okay – because after the past four US Opens, the USTA was pro-active and actually hired all independent contractors to work through Monday anyway.
Stories of week-two:
Andy Murray. After heartbreak in the Wimbledon Final against Roger Federer, he was able to capture Olympic Gold over the greatest to play the game…boosting his confidence, strengthening his resolve, leading him to his first ever Grand Slam Championship at the 2012 U.S. Open. Today, there is no doubt, Andy Murray has arrived. He has finally proven to himself that he can physically and emotionally endure under the toughest conditions…and most physically demanding matches.
Serena Williams. After winning Wimbledon in both singles and doubles, then doing the same at the London Games…she came into New York and dominated all of her opponents – with the exception of Victoria Azarenka in the final. The final was the first 3-setter ever in Arthur Ashe Stadium – the first at the US Open since 1995 – and it was the longest women’s final since 1981. It was a thriller down to the wire, featuring an amazing comeback from Serena (down 3-5 in the final set) winning four straight games to win the Championship.
Andre Agassi was inducted in the Court of Champions prior to the Women’s Final, and did an amazing job reflecting on his career and ongoing love affair with the US Open tennis fan in New York. Andy Roddick punctuated the occasion by describing Andre’s biggest influence on Andy’s own character – leading by example. From the way Andre engages everyone in the room…to the passion he puts into his foundation and philanthropy.
Bob and Mike Bryan set the Open-era Grand Slam title record in doubles, winning their 12th Slam on the US Open this year…this after winning Olympic Gold in London. At 34-years-old, Bob and Mike claim they are nowhere near calling it a career, either…they plan to keep grinding out matches long enough to defend their Olympic Gold in Rio come 2016. This year’s win felt particularly good for Bob and Mike, too – seeing as they’d lost to Paes and Stepanek in the Australian Open final.
How about the dominant year Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci have had? – Australian Open finalists, French Open Champions, Quarterfinalists at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, and now US Open Champions.
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CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES:
Men’s Singles Championship:
- Andy Murray def. Novak Djokovic 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2
Women’s Singles Championship:
- Serena Williams def. Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
Men’s Doubles Championship:
- Bryan Brothers def. L.Paes and R.Stepanek 6-3, 6-4
Women’s Doubles Championship:
- S.Errani and R.Vinci def. A.Hlavackova and L.Hradecka 6-4, 6-2
Mixed Doubles Championship:
- E.Makarova and B.Soares def. K.Peschke and M.Matkowski 6-7, 6-1 (12-10)
